Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 102

The room remained silent and Jessica glanced at Joulupukki. He chuckled with a huge smile stretching from ear to ear. He leaned over toward her. “I haven't heard a tale told so well since my mother.” The whole room roared into comments and wonderful remarks. “My dear, I was beside you through the whole ordeal, but I don't recall anything so grand as that which you said about me.” Bréagán admitted to her. “Please, I enjoyed your tale very much. It was so much better than if I had continued it. “I'm glad you enjoyed it, Bréagán. As for what I expressed of you, I told only the truth.” Bréagán gave her a dubious smile. The young ones gathered around her filled with questions, some asking for another story, many of the adults showed their own curiosity and she answered as many inquiries as she could; until, Joulupukki saw how tired she was and unceremoniously whisked her away to her sleeping chamber. “Thank you,” he said as he looked deep into her tired eyes. She laid back on her bed and Joulupukki spread a cover over her. I think you will do well here in the Village. She smiled up at him, then closed her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her good night. When he re-appeared down stairs there was nothing but wonderful comments about his soon to be partner. Several of the elves went so far as to get annoyed at him for taking her away. Her father was still in the middle of the crowd laughing and joking with a group that surrounded him. Joulupukki saw a small group of elders exiting the back of the cottage and he followed them out. “Joulupukki, she is wonderful,” Ceridfen said as soon as she saw him. “I think so too,” he replied. “Where is the young lady,” asked Gwaldon? “She was tired. I put her to bed,” was his response. “She has a right to be,” Gwaldon continued. “I have not enjoyed a tale so much since, ahh, since Aisling.” “Yes, she is very good.” His mind half on Jessica and half on his mother as they rounded the corner of the stable. They all stopped for a moment, their attention turned to the bright object in the sky. “Is that your beacon,” Dyndoeth questioned Gwaldon? “No, mine died when Joulupukki lifted from the ground after retrieving Erlenkönig, but it does seem to be the same bright object where our beacon was located and is certainly illuminating an object on the ground.” “One of the humans we encountered on our trip mentioned something about a special child being born.” Lumi shared with them. “Yes, there are many religions amongst the humans. Several of them speak of a child being born as their Messiah to guide them and teach them so the world will be a better place. I don't really know that much about it.” “I hope it is him,” Ceridfen added. “We could certainly use a bit more caring in our lives.” They all agreed and headed back into the cottage where each one went their own way, to a sleeping room or left to return to their own homes.